Saturday Arsenal come to Anfield and for the Spyin' Kop I usually go looking for opposing fans on their message boards but from a Dutch football forum I know a couple of Gunners who were willing to help out with my questions nicely. Here they are! (I translated this all from Dutch, if there is something sticking in here which is in Dutch tell me please
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1. What were your season expectations?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: Before the season started there were rumours about a departure from Nasri and Fabregas, the skipper. Nasri had played a great season but had a contract for just a year, so it was either sign a new deal or move on. Eventually we, understandably, sold him for a lot of money. It was a shame as he was a key player and to challenge for silverware you need them to stay. But the way Nasri treated Arsenal was a disgrace.
On top of that Fabregas was sold and Wilshere got injured, so we were without our three best players who weren’t replaced and were left with the very injury-prone Van Persie as a star man and skipper. So it was going to be tough to challenge for the top spots. If we finish fourth we’ve done well.
Kevinarsnl: It’s tough to take when Benayoun and Arteta replace Nasri and Fabregas, though they’ve been better than expected(though I miss the brilliance of them two). I wasn’t optimistic. Around sixth in the league, no Cup glory and an early European exit. Which was about right. I don’t think we’ll get fourth, Liverpool and Chelsea are great sides.
JoëlGunner: I didn’t expect a lot but a good cup run would have been nice. The title was beyond us.
2. How did it feel to annilihate Spurs?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: Brilliant. They were favourites according to the pundits and when Saha scored I feared another 8-2. Then they got 2-0 up which was horrible, even more bad luck for us against Spurs of all clubs. Luckily we got two goals before the break and were brilliant in the second half. It made me proud and now was more than ever a time to give them a trashing as their arrogance began to piss me off.
Kevinarsnl: Brilliant, what’s better then to trash them? After the second Spurs goal I feared the worst and I prayed for us to be clear of that and the prayers were answered. I loved Walcott. And ‘Arry’s face.
JoëlGunner: Brilliant! Season’s highlight along with Henry’s goals and the win at Chelsea.
3. Arsène Wenger has had some criticism. Does he need to stay or is his time up?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: Obviously Wenger needs to stay, he IS Arsenal! We ain’t got all the money like Chelsea or City, that’s why we have to sell our key men all the time. Imagine if we had kept Nasri and Fabregas, it would have been great. That’s why I hope Wenger can get the money to build a new great team, the man deserves that for all the work he’s done.
Kevinarsnl: You crazy, he should get a contract for life for all the good work he’s done here. It’s a miracle we’re fourth with this squad! I feel for Arsene, he could have been in Madrid or Paris, yet he stayed.
JoëlGunner: I’m split sometimes. But he made this club big and I respect his methods.
4. Who’s your key man outside RvP?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: Koscielny and Song. They have been reliable and developing this campaign. Koscielny is, in my opinion, one of the best defenders in the league and Song has improved his passing a lot.
Kevinarsnl: Song is the heartbeat of our team. His tackling and passing are brilliant. Wilshere is great too if fit.
JoëlGunner: Tough one, I’ll say Koscielny.
5. Arsenal are known for their great Academy. Are there some new kids on the block?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: I expect a lot of Benik Afobe, a strong striker, 19 years old. It says a lot that he could have gone to Barcelona already. Furthermore there’s Nicholas Yennaris, a young left-back who has played in the first team a couple of times now.
Kevinarsnl: Frimpong won us over already and Coquelin is an even bigger talent. And there are lads like Lansbury, Miquel, Afobe, Aneke, Eastmond and Yennaris who’ll do well.
JoëlGunner: This season Yennaris, Miquel, Frimpong and especially Coquelin announced themselves. I can see the latter become a key player. From the youth team I think Myaichi, Ozyakub and Afobe might make the step.
6. What’s your opinion on Kenny Dalglish?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: A nice, sporting man. However he’s paid way over the odds for Henderson, Carroll and Downing, I think that’s pretty laughable.
Kevinarsnl: I’m young so I haven’t seen his successes in the past, but I like him as he’s honest and not playing a role.
JoëlGunner: A nice bloke and a club legend. Great to have someone like him leading the club.
7. If you could get one Liverpool player, who would it be?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: Lucas Leiva never stood out for me but he’s been great this season. It’s a shame for both him and Liverpool that he’s out for the season.
Kevinarsnl: We haven’t had a lot to smile at Arsenal this season so I’d take Andy Carroll for a good laugh.
JoëlGunner: Suarez
8. Will RvP stay?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: I hope so and think so, I think he’s a proper Gunner but we could do with some new faces. He wants to win trophies but he wants to do that at Arsenal.
Kevinarsnl: I don’t know. He does look happy at Arsenal, but you never know. If he’s clever, he’ll stay.
JoëlGunner: I hope so, it’ll depend on the next months. How well will we play, who will we bring in?
9. Have you got a favourite game between our clubs?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: The Carling Cup Game at Anfield in 2007 when Julio Baptista got a hat-trick for Arsenal’s second-string team which won 6-3. Lovely.
Kevinarsnl: The 4-4 game with Arshavin is the first one that springs to mind. He was never great but he was immense that night.
JoëlGunner: The 4-4 with Arshavin was historical. The CL game in 2008 springs to mind too, with Walcott making that run. Unfortunately Liverpool scored again and we were out.
10. In what way Arsenal in March is different from Arsenal in August?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: We weren’t a team then and had bad luck with Koscielny’s injury and Frimpong’s red card. A full-strength Arsenal would have won that day, Liverpool didn’t convince me either but weren’t bad enough to drop points that day.
Kevinarsnl: We’ve got a quality bench now and everybody in the squad wants to be here. Things look better now.
JoëlGunner: The team’s more balanced now. We got a couple of new faces, though most of them are out for Saturday, but to have someone like Arteta is important.
11. Which team will Wenger pull out?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: I don’t see many changes. Perhaps Benayoun or Rosicky out for Gervinho or Oxlade-Chamberlain.
So Szczesny, Gibbs, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Sagna, Song, Arteta, ?, ?, Walcott and RvP
Kevinarsnl: The same that trashed Spurs. Don’t think Wenger will change, he’d be crazy if he did.
JoëlGunner: Szczezny
Sagna-Koscielny-Vermaelen-Gibbs
Song-Arteta
Rosicky
Walcott-RvP- Gervinho
Vermaelen and Rosicky if fit, otherwise Djourou and Ramsey
12. Mind to predict the score?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: It’s never easy to play at Anfield. Liverpool will be confident after their victory last week, but I think they’re very average. Arsenal to win 1-3(hopefully..)
Kevinarsnl: 2-2. Suarez and Gerrard for Liverpool, RvP and Arteta for Arsenal
JoëlGunner: 2-3!
13. Where will both teams be come May?
Arsene Wenger’s Lovechild: If Arsenal win Sunday, 4th is beyond Liverpool and Newcastle will fall away sometime. So 4th is between us and Chelsea and we’ll pinch it. Liverpool to get 6th.
Kevinarsnl: There I said it, we’ll get fourth. Pool 5th, above Chelsea though. And Torres
JoëlGunner: Arsenal third, Liverpool 6th
